Ammunition wagon or caisson.



Nb. 868,224. PATENTED OCT. 15, 1907. c. P. E. SCHNEIDER & E. RIMAILHO.

AMMUNITION WAGON OR GAISSON.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.18. 1908. v

' cases or cartridges 1'.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES PROSPER EUGENE SCHNEIDER, OF LE CREUSOT, AND EMILE RIMAILHO, OFNEUiLLY-SUR-SEINE, FRANCE.

AMMUNITION WAGON OR CAISSON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1907.

Application filed August 18, 1906. Serial No. 331,209.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CimnLEs PROSPER EUGENE SCHNEIDER and EMILERIMAILTIO, residing, respectively, at Le Creusot, Saone-et Loire,France, and at 54: Boulevard Maillot, Neuilly-sur-Seine. Seine, France,have invented new and useful Improvements in or Re- Yating to AmmunitionWagons or Caissons, which is fully set forth in the followingspecification.

The present invention has for its object a caisson or ammunition wagonpermitting of transporting projectiles of different lengths in variableproportions, and also the corresponding charges; at the same time it isadapted to serve as a protection for the gunners. This caisson iscomposed of a fore carriage and a rear carriage. The projectiles and thecharges are arranged in the fore carriage in accordance with the samedisposition as in the rear carriage, with some slight differenceshereinafter pointed out.

The invention is represented in detail in the accompanying drawing inwhich Figure l is a general perspective View of the complete caisson inmarching order. Fig. 2 shows the rear carriage in perspective in batteryposition. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the rear carriage caisson.Fig. 4 is a corresponding view in plan with the cover removed. Fig. 5 sa view in plan of the fore carriage caisson with the cover removed.

Referring to Fig. 2, the pole a pertaining to the rear carriage isrepresented supported in a horizontal or approximately horizontalposition by means of a prop or strut b; the pole being directed towardsthe mark or target. The rear carriage of the caisson is situated besidethe gun to be served. The caisson comprises at its rear. two doors 0very thick and mounted on vertical hinges. In the thickness of thesedoors there are formed horizontally disposed cylindrical openings (1adapted to serve housings for the charges cartridge When the doors areopen, the interior of the caisson is visible; the doors constitutinglateral shields to the right-hand and the left-hand. A plate e adaptedto be raised vertically around a horizontal hinge h, situated at thelower part of the caisson, may be let down horizontally between thedoors, so as to form a table (Fig. 2). The leaves or doors 0 areprovided with latches or with a projecting rim k which serves to supportthe plate or table a in the horizontal position. The plate 0 may be letdown into a vertical position as indicated by 6 (Fig. 3) in whichposition it serves to shield the legs of the gunners, in order tocomplete the protection in front; this protection being further assuredby the front wall L and the COVGI' f properly so called of the boxforming a shield.

The projectiles p are arranged upright on the base in the recesses m,and placed on india rubber washers n.

The upper part of each projectile is fixed by means of plates g formedwith holes or apertures o. A single plate extending the whole width ofthe chest may be provided, or a separate plate may be arranged for eachrow or file of projectiles perpendicular to the axle. The plate orplates 9 is or are mounted on the plate t by means of horizontal hingesh. Several hinges of this kind are arranged at different heights on thesaid plate the levels at which they are hinged corresponding to thevarying lengths of the projectiles it is desired to carry. 7

If one and the same gun is to be provided with projectiles of differentlengthsshort for shrapnel and long for explosive projectilesthearrangement described above permits of transporting in the same caissonprojectiles of any desired proportions and of varying lengths, byengaging the several upper plates- 9 with appropriately situated hingesso that the plates may be let down upon the ogival ends of theprojectiles. The holes 0 formed in the plates corrresond with the formsof the ogival ends, so that the projectiles are supported in alldirections. When the plate 0 is raised (this plate during tiring servingas a manipulating table) it engages the plates 9 for fixing shortprojectiles and prevents them from rising. The fixing or locking platesfor long projectiles are engaged by a projection u on the front or innerwall of each of the doors. The

cover f of the caisson covers up the whole and the rear doors 0 assurethe closing by means of a suitable fas tening, uniting between them allthe movable parts. The caisson comprises a cranked axle, so as to lowerthe center of gravity of. the whole. It likewise comprises a brake forthe wheels, a forage receptacle above the pole, and boxes in the saidpole.

The fore carriage comprises three chests, t in the center receiving thecartridge cases, while the lateral chests a: and y receive theprojectiles; both the cartridge cases and the projectiles are supportedin the manner described with reference to the rear carriage.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In an ammunition carriage, an ammunition chest having' a removabletop closure, a rear end double door provided with chambers for holdingpowder charges, the said top closure and leaves of said door when inopen position constituting shields, a projectile-retaining plate havingone end movably supported by the front wall of the chest, means forlocking said plate in position to retain the projectiles fromdisplacement, an end or tail plate which may be swung into verticalposition within the said chest, into a horizontal serving position andinto a shield posi tion, and means for retaining the said plate in itsserving position.

2. In an ammunition carriage, an ammunition chest having' movable topand end closures, said closures acting as shields when the carriage isin serving position, an ad justahle projectile'retaining plate revolublysupported on one wall of said chest, and locking means holding saidplate in position to retain the projectiles in' place when said chest isclosed.

3. In an ammunition carriage, an ammunition chest having movable top andend closures, said closures acting as shields when the carriage is inserving position, a projectile retaining plate revolubly supported ,onone wall of said chest, and an end or tail plate revolubly supported onthe bottom of the chest and engaging said retaining plate to lock thesame in a fixed position to retain the projectiles when the chest isclosed.

4. In an ammunition carriage, an ammunition chest having movable top andend closures, the end closure being provided with chambers for holdingpowder charges, and both closures serving as shields when the carriageis in serving position, and an adjustable projectile-retaining platerevolubly supported on one wall of said chest for retaining projectilesin place when said chest is closed, and locking means for said plate.

5. In an ammunition carriage, an ammunition chest having top and endclosures, said closures acting as shields when the carriage is inserving position, a plurality of plates revolubly supported in diiferentplanes, for retaining projectiles of different lengths in place, andmeans for locking said plates in a fixed position.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES PROSPER EUGENE SCHNEIDER. EMILE RIMAILHO.

Witnesses EUGENE E. NAUSE, PIERRE GALEAN.

